Last look at the Assembly race in our district
Last look at the Assembly race in our district
CalMatters coverage of the Assembly Race in District 2
We are republishing coverage of the District 2 Assembly race from CalMatters, a non-partisan state-level reporting organization that we belong to. The Sebastopol Times does not endorse candidates.
What to Know
WHAT DOES A STATE ASSEMBLYMEMBER DO?
Cast as many as 3,000 votes a year — and in theory a way most of your constituents want.
Pass a state spending plan when there’s likely to be a deficit and an uncertain financial picture.
Sit through long meetings, unless you get a spot on the powerful Appropriations Committee, where you’ll decide behind closed doors and then pass or kill all the bills at once.
BACKGROUND
The Assembly experienced a “Great Resignation” in 2022 with 25 members taking other jobs or announcing their retirement. And there was more turnover in the 2022 election.
Duties can depend on party affiliation. Democrats — who control 62 of the 80 seats now and want to keep a supermajority — should be prepared to craft important legislation. Republicans should be prepared to spend a lot of time criticizing Democrats and complaining about being frozen out of decisions.
But not all Democrats are alike. They often disagree — about health care, housing, environmental regulation, taxes and labor law. In Democratic-leaning districts, expect unions, left-leaning activists and deep-pocketed business interests to aggressively push the Democrat of their choice.
Rank-and-file Assemblymembers are paid $128,215 a year, plus $214 a day for expenses when the Legislature is in session. Party leaders get higher pay.
The top two finishers in March, regardless of party, move on to the November general election.
CANDIDATES
Rusty Hicks - Educator / Nonprofit Director (Democrat)
Ariel Kelley - Healdsburg Mayor / Mom (Democrat)
Frankie Myers - Vice-Chair, Yurok Tribe (Democrat)
Chris Rogers - Councilmember / Non-Profit Executive (Democrat)
Ted Williams - County Supervisor / Firefighter (Democrat)
Michael Greer - Retired Special Educator (Republican)
THE DISTRICT
This vast coastal district, which reaches from Santa Rosa [and Sebastopol] up to the Oregon border, is a major agricultural region, with dairy, wine grapes and the struggling cannabis farms of the Emerald Triangle. Though overwhelmingly white, it includes California’s largest indigenous tribe, the Yurok.
Voter registration: 51.0% Democratic, 21.8% Republican, 18.8% no party preference
THE SCOOP
By unexpectedly passing on his final term representing this safely Democratic district on the north coast, Assemblymember Jim Wood set off one of the most contentious legislative races of the year. California Democratic Party Chairperson Rusty Hicks, who recently moved to Arcata, is now seeking to make his first foray into public office — frustrating longtime critics in the progressive wing of the party, who have unsuccessfully called on Hicks to step down from his post while he campaigns. A former Los Angeles labor leader, Hicks is a well-connected insider who quickly pulled in influential endorsements, including from Wood and the California Labor Federation.
He faces stiff competition, including Chris Rogers, a council member in Santa Rosa, by far the largest city in the district. [See Sebastopol Times’ coverage of a Rogers’ Sebastopol campaign event here.] Rogers has racked up his own lengthy list of supporters from local labor and political circles, led by Rep. Mike Thompson, who represents Santa Rosa in Congress and soon-to-be state Senate leader Mike McGuire.
Other Democrats pursuing the seat include Healdsburg Mayor Ariel Kelley [see Sebastopol Times’ profile of Kelley here], Yurok Tribe Vice Chairperson Frankie Myers and Mendocino County Supervisor Ted Williams.
The strong liberal lean of the district means there’s an outside chance two of them make it through the primary and face off in the November general election. But with only one Republican in the race — Michael Greer, a school district trustee in Del Norte County — that’s unlikely, making the primary potentially decisive.
FUNDRAISING
A total of $3.61 million has been invested in this race, $2.48 million was contributed directly to the candidates and $1.13 million in outside spending.
CANDIDATES WITH OUTSIDE SPENDING
RUSTY HICKS - $926k raised
INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURES
Oppose - $371k paid for by 1 group: NORTH COAST NEIGHBORS SUPPORTING ARIEL KELLEY AND OPPOSING RUSTY HICKS FOR ASSEMBLY 2024
Support - $634k paid for by 2 groups: EDUCATORS AND HEALTH PROFESSIONALS FOR RUSTY HICKS FOR STATE ASSEMBLY 2024, SPONSORED BY LABOR UNIONS, EDUCATION, AND HEALTHCARE ORGANIZATIONS; SEIU UNITED HEALTHCARE WORKERS WEST POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE
CHRIS ROGERS - $402k raised
INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURES
Oppose - $59.9k paid for by 1 group: CALIFORNIA REAL ESTATE INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURE COMMITTEE - CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS
Support - $56.1k paid for by 1 group: NORTH COAST RESIDENTS FOR NORTH COAST VALUES SUPPORTING RODGERS FOR ASSEMBLY 2024, SPONSORED BY TEAMSTERS LOCAL 665
Frankie Myers - $178k raised
INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURES
Oppose - $0
Support - $6.42k paid for by 1 group: RE-ELECT JAMES RAMOS FOR ASSEMBLY 2024
CANDIDATES WITH NO REPORTED OUTSIDE SPENDING
Ariel Kelley - $949k raised [The Sebastopol Times has inquired of CalMatters why they didn’t include NORTH COAST NEIGHBORS SUPPORTING ARIEL KELLEY AND OPPOSING RUSTY HICKS FOR ASSEMBLY 2024 as a part of Ariel’s outside spending.]
Michael Greer - $26.3k raised
The following candidates have not reported raising any money nor have they been the subject of any outside spending: Ted Williams and Cynthia Click (the latter has quit the race).
The data comes from the Secretary of State. The last time we checked for an update was Mar 2, 2024 at 11:22 AM.
KEY ENDORSEMENTS
Rusty Hicks
Gov. Gavin Newsom
California Labor Federation
SEIU California
Chris Rogers
Rep. Mike Thompson
Sen. Mike McGuire
California Young Democrats
Sierra Club
Ariel Kelley
California Democratic Legislative Women’s Caucus
California Legislative Jewish Caucus
California Women’s List
Michael Greer
California Republican Party
See CalMatters non-partisan voting guide here.
Excellent!
The Sebastopol Times has left something important out of the article above. The article fails to include the "local elected officials" who endorse Chris Rogers - while referring to such a list for Kelley. The Times should note that while some "local elected officials" such as Lynda Hopkins have apparently endorsed both Rogers and Kelley, missing from Kelley's endorsees are such luminaries as Mike Thompson, Lynn Woolsey, Noreen Evans and Mike McGuire. The last four count seriously for me and the Times should note they have endorsed Rogers but not Kelley.